At the Origin

Cornflower is a typical ‘messicole’ plant – found in cereal crops because its development cycle lends itself to this – in a spontaneous state. Phytosanitary treatments of crops with pesticides have greatly reduced its presence for years. But because of its ornamental qualities and due to the needs of the cosmetic industry, this plant is grown in several countries, and notably in France.

Phytochemistry of cornflower water

For years, there has been no published work on the volatile constituents of cornflower. It was not until 2008 that a publication appeared on the composition of cornflower essential oil. Two constituents in marked proportions have been reported in the shoot: carvacrol (25.5%) and hexadecanoic acid (6.4%) (1). According to another publication the same year, the major constituents of the fresh leaf are different: cis-hexyl-acetate, cis-hexanol, -caryophyllene, germacrene-D (2). Another piece of old data indicates the presence of odourless volatile polyynes in the volatile parts of the plant (3). At present, the composition of cornflower waters is still little known.

Use for natural beauty

Cornflower water is mainly used to soothe and cleanse irritated and reactive skin. It is mainly applied to the eyelids, especially when they are tired and weak.

Références :

• (1) Labadie C (2015). Analyse fine et stabilisation des hydrolats de rose et de fleur d’oranger. Thèse Doct Univ Montpellier.
• (2) Inouye S, Takahashi M, Abe S (2008). A comparative study on the composition of forty four hydrosols and their essential oils. Int J Ess Oil Therap, 2: 89-104.
• (3) Eikani MH, Golmohammad F, Rowshanzamir S, Mirza M (2005). Recovery of water-soluble constituents of rose oil using simultaneous distillation–extraction. Flav Fragr J, 20(6): 555-8.
• (4) Agarwal SG, Gupta A, Kapahi BK, Baleshwar, Thappa RK, Suri OP (2005). Chemical composition of rose water volatiles. J Essent Oil Res, 17(3): 265-7.